Phoenix Coyotes' Ed Jovanovski set for full-speed return

It took a few minutes before Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski opened his left eye after he collided with Atlanta Thrashers forward Patrice Cormier's helmet in a game Feb. 17 at Jobing.com Arena. He left the ice hunched over, dabbing at his face and scared for what was to come.

Nearly seven weeks later, Jovanovski is back with the Coyotes. He's expected to make his return to game action Wednesday in Los Angeles against the Kings. Except for a bed of pink under his left iris, Jovanovski looks the same as before he was injured.

"People tell me I look better," he said with a smile.

But Jovanovski is not the same. He probably never will be.

"It was frightening," he admitted.

Jovanovski remembers the play. He remembers how quickly he got off the ice. He remembers the urgency to get him in front of a doctor.

"I don't think there was any intent to injure me out there," he said. "It's one of those freak accidents that happen."

Once he did open his eye, Jovanovski didn't notice any issues. But he had suffered a fractured orbital bone that required surgery. The risks were there - blurry eyesight, double vision - but Jovanovski emerged from the surgery relatively unscathed.

Jovanovski realizes how lucky he is. Vancouver Canucks center Manny Malhotra had a puck clip his eye almost three weeks ago and has had two surgeries since to save his eye and vision.

"It's interesting to watch the dynamics of a team when a guy does get injured," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "They care about him like a brother. I think Jovo has felt that here, and the players really care about him not just so he can get better, but getting better as a person.

"I think you saw the same thing in Vancouver with Malhotra. They care for him, for his livelihood moving forward, not just the next game, and I think that's the special thing about hockey."

In the weeks after the surgery, Jovanovski was sad and scared. His family felt that way, too. But he never believed his career was in jeopardy. That was the motivation he needed.

"You talk to any athlete or any person that's driven," Jovanovski said. "When things are taken away from you, you work that much harder to get them back."

So here he is now, back on the ice, guarding the net like he always has. For the duration of this season, Jovanovski will wear a cage. After that, he'll consider adopting a visor. He wore one during stints with Team Canada in the World Hockey Championships but never was a fan.

"I may have no choice," he said.

For now, Jovanovski is just happy to have the option.

"I feel comfortable," he said. "The doctors feel comfortable, and I'll attack it full speed."

Looking forward

Three injured players will return for the Coyotes on Wednesday night. The Coyotes, fifth in the Western Conference, can clinch a playoff spot by earning a point but already may have secured a playoff berth if Dallas loses Tuesday night to Columbus.

Tippett said it's vital that the Coyotes finish strong as they chase home ice in the first round of the playoffs.

"Our guys recognize what's at stake these next three games, and how hard we're going to have to play to get that," he said. "To get one of those top four seeds, we would certainly welcome that."

The Coyotes' chances against the Kings will be bolstered with forwards Lauri Korpikoski (upper-body injury) and Taylor Pyatt (upper) and Jovanovski expected to play.

"I think the rest certainly did some good for us," Tippett said after Monday's practice. "I think you see Korpikoski and Pyatt and Jovanovski out there, looked like they're going full speed, a big positive for us."

The Kings, fourth in the West, will be even more desperate with their top two scorers, center Anze Kopitar (broken ankle) and right wing Justin Williams (dislocated shoulder), not playing.

"Both teams need points to secure a playoff spot," Tippett said. "They are battling a couple injuries right now, and that's just part of the game. We've been battling it for three weeks."

Making adjustments

Defenseman Derek Morris, noting that the four off days between games is the longest since the team returned from the season-opening weekend in the Czech Republic, was rested and ready on Monday and said it was "nice to get a mental break."

Morris and the Coyotes have found success in sticking to a defensive-minded system.

"I think we've done a good job of adjusting to other teams, but I think our forwards have just worked extremely hard at getting in, getting good forechecks, holding on to the puck down low.

"When we hold on to the puck down low, we have good nights, so if we're not one and out, if we get second and third chances, we usually got a real good chance to win."

Gormley moving up

The Coyotes' American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, signed defenseman Brandon Gormley to an amateur tryout offer. The 2010 first-round pick (13th overall) joins San Antonio from the Moncton Wildcats (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) where he had 13 goals and 35 assists in 47 games this season.

San Antonio also signed right wing Philip Lane, 18, to an amateur tryout offer. He has 17 goals and 17 assists, with 113 penalty minutes, in 54 regular-season games with Brampton of the Ontario Hockey League.

Lane was picked by the Coyotes in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2010 draft.